With Sturgis Upon Us: A Reminder To Watch Out For Bikes

With the 74th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally officially underway out in South Dakota, it’s a good time for all of us to be reminded to watch out for bikes. Bikers are exposed to the dangers of traveling with much larger vehicles, so help ‘em out by following a few simple tips.

There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road, and some drivers don’t “recognize” a motorcycle. Look with motorcycles in mind.

A motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots or masked by objects or backgrounds outside a car. Take an extra moment to look for motorcycles.

A motorcycle may look farther away than it is. It may also be difficult to judge a motorcycle’s speed. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection or into (or out of) a driveway, predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks.

Motorcyclists often slow by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Allow more following distance, say 3 or 4 seconds. At intersections, predict a motorcyclist may slow down without visual warning.

Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and wind. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to be reckless or show off or to allow you to share the lane with them.

Turn signals on a motorcycle usually are not self-canceling, thus riders sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcycle’s signal is for real.

Maneuverability is one of a motorcycle’s better characteristics, especially at slower speeds and with good road conditions, but don’t expect a motorcyclist to always be able to dodge out of the way.

Stopping distance for motorcycles is nearly the same as for cars, but slippery pavement makes stopping quickly difficult. Allow more following distance behind a motorcycle because you can’t always stop “on a dime.”

When a motorcycle is in motion, see more than the motorcycle – see the person under the helmet, who could be your friend, neighbor, or relative.

If a driver crashes into a motorcyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian and causes serious injury, the driver would likely never forgive himself/herself.

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